Game On: Hornets @ Grizzlies

A tough loss for the Hornets last night, and it doesn’t get any easier as they roll into Memphis today to take on a Grizzlies team that has won a franchise-record 11 straight home games. Game tips at 7 Central.

We saw the Grizzlies in New Orleans just ten days ago, when Chris Paul dropped 21, 13 and 6 and James Posey spun around rookie DeMarre Carroll for the last gasp game winner. Unfortunately, Posey will miss this game with that strained Achilles and Paul is questionable after suffering a nasty knee bruise last night against the Bulls.

The Grizzlies are 25-20 on the season, and are themselves just getting into town after a 97-104 loss last night to the Tony Parker-less Spurs in San Antonio. O.J. Mayo led Memphis with an efficient 28 points in that one and new All-Star Zach Randolph chipped in with 19 points and 13 rebounds, but the Grizz were undone by the Spurs’ reserves.

The Gizzlies currently hold the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference. The Hornets are tenth, just a half game behind them in the standings. A big game tonight for these division rivals.

Linkage:

(Many thanks to Dariusz for today’s banner featuring Lee Nailon, the 6-9 forward who played two stints with the Hornets, most recently during that woeful 2004-05 campaign when he averaged a career-high 14.2ppg. Be sure to check out more of Dariusz’s designs in our Wallpapers vault.)